Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-23
TINE NEW COERCION BILL.
John Morley Makes a Ntiayfng Rcjoin.
der 10 the Motion for Urgency.

Smith, the government leader, moved in the
house OF commons last night that the Irish crimes
act have precedence over all orders OF the day.
The measure he said, WAS absolutely essential for
the peace and happiness OF the law-abiding people
of Ireland. Referring to tile proposed Amendment
offered last night by John Morley rejecting the
declaration OF urgency for the government bill,
MI. Smith reminded the house how Mr. Gladstone
resisted the adoption OF a similar amendment in
1881 The position OF the government now was
the same as that OF Mr.. Gladstone's government
then. Regarding their ameliorative policy to-
ward Ireland, the speaker said the government
land bill would be divided into two parts. one OF
these would be introduced Immediately. The
other would be q land purchase bill OF wide scope
Mr.. smith said he hoped the house would speedily
adopt the governments measures IL the house
did not adopt them the government would be CON-
PEELED to ask the opinion OF the country 10 either
confirm their policy or relieve them OF the respon
sibilitieS OF government
JOHN MORLEY DEFENDS THE IRIsu
John Morley, moving The rejection OF the motion
for urgency, denied absolutely Mr.. Smiths asser-
lions as TO the lawless condition OF Ireland and
demanded that the government give comparative
staustics OF crime Ia Ireland which, he said would
show that, beyond certain very narrow area the
country had seldom been Quieter. The land COM
mission had declared that the people were unable
TO pay excessive rents. No matter how the tenants
might strive, this wrctched landlord system
crushed them. The coercion proposals OF the gov
eminent appeared TO be based upon the idea that
But those who knew them had different concep-
ton OF their character. They believed them 10 be
honest, Woodworking and truthful He was less
anxious to secure rents for some hard landlords
than to secure just treatment for those good and
honest working people. IL was Irish history over
people without legal remedy: then Illegal acts 70
secure something like moral rights; then coercion,
driving just discomfort under the surface and ex-
citing nercer discomfort.
In 1881, when the coercion bill was passed, the
number OF ev1ctions rose enormously. The number
or outrages Increased from l7O In February, 1881,
doubted whether the excessive penal Laws of the
eighteenth century did more injury to Ireland than
did the agrarian laws OF the present century.
tHear! Hear1 TO ask urgency for placing the law
upon the side OF the landlord was TO shut the door
OF hope upon the tenants. His deliberate convic-
u sha and nsd never pen more
falling, ever-pOSonous remedy OF coercion
Mr.. Balfour. defending the bill, said that 1t had
present current Of crime was aimed at the
subyersiOn OF the laws. The leaders OF the Oppo-
Sttl0n knew that the National League was a COM
Dlnatlon aiming at illegal ends through terrorism.
THE GOVERNMENT RELIEF SCHEMES.
Although nothing definite is known it is pretty
certain that the government relief proposals Will
consist OF giving tenants power to stay evictions
by declaring their inability to pay full rent and
wfping out the claim by surrender to the bank
ruptcy court. A grand measure for land purchase
VIII follow. This measure is now known 10 be
based upon Mr.. Chamberlains land-bapk scheme
III the government should be defeated at any
point In the development OF their policy they
will not resign, but will appeal to the country.
The confident tone OF the ministerialists con-
firms the generally accepted report that Mr..
Chamberlain and Lord Harrington assisted in
building the scheme and approve the final struc-
ture. The ParnelliteS are eager TO tight q u
outrance at every stage, but they find the Glad
stonianS reluctant to support them. Instead OF
conteSt1ng the urgency motion to the utmost ex-
treDity the Gladstonian whips without consult
ing the Parnellites, arranged with the government
whips to divide On the Morley amendment on
Thursday, thus opening the road TO the passage OF
the coercion bill before the Easter recess The
Parnell1tes are disposed to disregard the whips
and are arranging TO continue the struggle indie
pendently.